Mumbai Climate Week 2026: What will change in Maharashtra? Ministers explain

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday inaugurated Indias first Mumbai Climate Week 2026He said the event is a significant milestone in accelerating the states climate action agendaFadnavis said climate action is not merely an environmental responsibility but a strategic necessity for future economic competitivenessldquoClimate action must translate into investment innovation and job creationrdquo he said adding that Maharashtra intends to position itself at the forefront of Indiarsquos green transitionClimate change a governance challengeHighlighting the growing impact of climate change on coastal cities the CM said Mumbai has been witnessing extreme rainfall flooding heatwaves and disruption to livelihoods Transport systems are frequently paralysed during heavy downpours homes are submerged and businesses are forced to shut he notedRural Maharashtra faces unseasonal rainfall and crop losses intensifying economic and social distress Climate change has become a serious governance challenge he saidUnder the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi India has balanced economic growth with environmental responsibility Fadnavis said The country has rapidly expanded its renewable energy capacity and emerged as a global clean energy leader he addedThe state in this initiative aims to increase the share of green energy to over 50 per cent by 2030 focusing on clean hydrogen electric mobility biofuels and sustainable infrastructure The state is also promoting renewable energy use in industries expanding electric mobility strengthening floodcontrol systems and adopting climatesmart urban planning across the Mumbai Metropolitan RegionInvestment and climate finance focusCalling for global partnerships Fadnavis said public funds alone cannot meet the scale of investment required for climate action He urged collaboration with international financial institutions and the private sector advocating blended finance and risksharing modelsHe added that Mumbai has the potential to emerge as a global climate finance hub ldquoDeveloping nations should not be forced to choose between development and environmental protection With the right partnerships both goals can be achievedrdquo he saidThe Chief Minister stressed that Mumbai Climate Week 2026 must move beyond dialogue and result in investmentready projects and implementable partnershipsOne lakh additional PMKUSUM pumps for MaharashtraUnion Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi praised Maharashtrarsquos performance under the PMKUSUM scheme and announced approval of an additional one lakh solar pumps for the stateJoshi said Mumbai Climate Week symbolises the transition from climate discussion to concrete action He noted that India while remaining one of the fastestgrowing economies is taking decisive steps to reduce emissionsHe said Maharashtra has achieved notable progress in renewable energy through public participation with solar projects installed in lakhs of homes Renewable capacity particularly solar and wind has expanded significantly over the past decade Work is also underway on energy storage grid stability and AIbased demand managementIndia has set global cost benchmarks in green hydrogen and green ammonia production benefiting both industry and agriculture Joshi addedHe said Mumbai should emerge as a voice of the Global South in climate leadershipYouth participation crucial Pankaja MundeState Environment and Climate Change Minister Pankaja Munde said climate action requires strong collaboration between government civic bodies and citizens with youth participation playing a central roleShe said rising urban temperatures extreme rainfall flooding coastal stress and air pollution are pressing concerns for Mumbai while rural areas continue to grapple with unpredictable droughts and floodsMumbai Climate Week she said is designed not just for discussions but to accelerate implementation and unlock climate financing pathways She urged stakeholders to actively participate and propose practical solutionsProject Mumbai founder Shishir Joshi outlined the objectives of the initiative during the opening sessionOn the occasion a special commemorative postal stamp marking Mumbai Climate Week 2026 and a climate change report were releasedMemorandums of Understanding were signed between the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority MMRDA and the United Nations Environment Programme to prepare Mumbairsquos climate adaptation plansAnother MoU was signed between MMRDA and the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group to strengthen urban climate action